Girdle



J. BLOOM Nov. 20, 1934.

G IRDLB Filed April 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOSEPH BLOOM my? A OR NE Nov. 20, 1934. J. BLOOM 1,981,136

GIRDLE Filed April .25, 1934 2 She'ets-Sheet 2- INV'ENTOR JOSEPH Bl. 00M

MXW A oFiNE Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to elastic knitted girdles. Heretofore, girdles of this nature have been produced on circular knitting machines producing continuous tubular knitted fabric which could be cut to the desired girdle lengths. Such knitted tubular structure has approximately the same elasticity all around, enabling it to more or less equally mold itself to the figure.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a knitted girdle, which while capable. of molding itself to the figure, will exert more of a confining and supporting effect on certain portions of the figure and more particularly to shape the girdle in the knitting, so that it will be shorter in the front and have a desirably longer back formation.

Other objects of the invention and the novel features of construction by which the objects are attained will appear as the specification proceeds.

go The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate practical features.

of the invention, but as.this illustration is primarily by way of disclosure, it will be appreciated that the structure shown may be modified and changed in certain respects, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 in the drawings is a broken and part sectiqnal and somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating formation of the tubular fabric as it comes from the head of the knitting machine.

Fig. 2 is a broken front view of the tubular knit fabric as itcomes from the knitting machine,.this view showing the structure as it looks viewed in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3'is a 5 similar view of the back of the knit structure as viewed in the direction of arrow 3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a broken view showing the tubular fabric fiattened down on the center line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4a is a side view illustrating one of the girdle .wlengths cut from the tubular fabric of Fig. 4 and showing how when straightened out the back will be longer than the front; Fig. 5 is a front view illustrating one of the lengths finished as a girdle; Fig. 6 and 7 are broken front and side, flattened views of a modified form of the knitted fabric; Fig. 8 is a side view of the girdle cut from this form of fabric and showing how with this construction, at the back, it is lower both at the top and at the bottom.

In Fig. 1, the tubular knit structure is indicate at 6, coming down from the head of the knitting machine indicated generally at 7, and passing between flattening rollers 8, laying it in folds in the receiving can 9.

The knitting machine is set by means known and longer back effect is accomplished without to experts in the art, to produce in the knitted structure a panel 10, of closer knitted form extending longitudinally of the fabric.

This closer knitted panel becomes the front portion of the completed article, as indicated in Fig. 5 and being firmer and more compact, serves to restrain and'support the abdominal and front waist portions of the body.

This closer knit portion of the fabric foreshortens the tubular structure, making it actually 55 shorter at the front paneled side than at the back, looser knit side 11.

In the knitting machine, suitable'l'ines for cutting are produced as indicated'at 12, but instead of cutting straight across as customary with 7 ordinary tubular knitted fabric, this special paneled tubular material is flattened down as on the plane of line 44 of Fig. 2, "o as to bring the cutting lines, which are further apart at the back than at the front, substantially straight, as indicated in Fig. 4. Then a straight out across will sever the lengths as in Fig. 4a, in the way that they are knitted, longer at the back and shorter at the front.

The severance of lengths is thus effected along the rows of knitting and without cutting across the elastic cord forming the body .or frame of the knitting, except at the end convolutions of the same. In this way, the desired short front cutting away or weakening any of the structure and the girdle may be finished off by then simply stitching the binding 13, 14, about the upper and lower edges and applying the necessary attachments, such as 15.

An extra panel or panels, if desired, may be knitted in other portions of the girdle, for instance, at the sides or even at the back and such panels may be narrower or wider than the one illustrated. It is usually suflicient and preferred at present however, simply to form a relatively wide closer knit panel in the front of the girdle, which will provide the desired additional support at the front and at the same time make the front of the girdle in its knit form shorter than at the back. The panel or panels may vary in width, for example, increase in width toward the bottom, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2. Also the close knit panels need not extend the full length' of the garment.

Instead of knitting the fabric alternately with smaller and larger ends together as first described, the tubular girdle stock may be knitted with larger and smaller ends adjoining as' shown in Figs. 6 and 7, these views corresponding in showing to Figs. 2 and 4 of the first sheet. It

will be noted that when thus knitting the larger and smaller ends 16, 1'7 together'as in these views, there will be a certain fullness or bulge at 18,. when the fabric is flattened ready for severing on lines 12a. This fullness, which is at the back and longer side of the fabric, gives the extra length for the lower end of the girdle at the back at 1811 and the taking of this fullness away from the upper end of the adjoining girdle section, leaves the finished girdle with the back lower than the front at the top, substantially as indicated at 19 in Fig. 8.

What is. claimed is:

1. A circular knitted elastic girdle having a panel knit more closely than adjoining portions,

said panel extending lengthwise of the front portion of the girdle and said girdle being knit shorter at the front and longer in the back.

panel knit more closely than adjoining portions extending lengthwise of the front .of the same and being knitted with the top and bottom of the back lower than the top and-bottom of, the front.

' JOSEPH BLOOM. 

